Machine tool



Jan. 29 1946. H, KRAUT ET AL 2,393,696-

MACHINE TOOL Filed March 20, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 H0725 Bjzrgu flea" ill? alllmore flier Z595- Jan. 29,1946. H. B. KRAUT ETAL 2,393,696

MACHINE TOOL Filed March 20, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 29, 1946. H. B. KRAUT'. ETAL MACHINE TOOL Filed March 20. 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 K2 42 af GaZZz'more Jan. 29, 1946. u-r AL 2,393,696

MACHINE TOOL Filed March 20, 1944 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 29, 1946. H. B. KRAUT ET AL 2,393,695

MACHINE TOOL Filed March 20, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l jizvenz ohs Hans B .izrawf' 121 5% Fdallz'more 1 & I W

77 fflom eys,

Patented Jan. 2a, 1946 2,898.6 momma 'rooL' Hans B. Kraut and Keith F. Gallimore, Fond du Lac. Wis., assignors to Giddlngs a Lewis chine Tool 00., Fond du Lac. Win. a corporation of Wisconsin Application March 20,1944, Serial No. 521,174

Claims.

The invention relates generally to machine tools, and more particularly to machines for operating on relatively large heavy workpieces.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a machine tool of the above general character which affords a high degree of flexibility with respect to the presentation of tools to the work and to the relative movements thereof,

thereby materially increasing the versatility of the machine, and adapting it for the performance of a wide variety of machining operations heretofore requiring separate machine tools.

Another object is to provide an improved machine tool embodying novel features of construction which not only greatly increase the number and type of machining operations capable of being performed therewith, but enable the machine to perform such operations on large workpieces with a high degree of precision.

Another object is to provide a universal machine tool capable of accurately and efiiciently performing a wide variety of machining operations such as boring, drilling, facing, milling and turning.

Still another object is to provide an improved machine tool structure in which the tools are supported on upright columns arranged for bodily adjustment with referenceto the work support and interconnected in a novel and advantageous manner to impart greater strength and rigidity thereto. I

A further object is to provide an improved machine tool capable of performing many different machinin operations on the top, sides and ends of a workpiece in a single setting of the same.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a machine tool embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine tool.

Figs. 3 and 4 are, respectively, left and'right end elevations] views of the machine tool.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the drives for the various machine elements.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, we have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that we do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of theinvention as expressed in the appended claims.

In carrying out the invention we provide an organization of work and tool supporting elements which are relatively adjustable and relatively movable in a manner adapted to afford maximum flexibility with respect to the number and type of machine operations which can be performed. To obtain'the relative feeding movements required for the different types of machining operations adapted to be performed, the work is supported so that it may be translated horizontally or rotated about a vertical axis as desired. Such movements are also advantageous in the adjustment oi the tools and work to present selected areas for action thereon by the tools.

Accommodations are provided for a wide variety of tools and the proper presentation of such tools to the work for the diflerent types of machining operations is insured by the provision of upright supporting members or columns at opposite sides of the work support upon which tool carrying elements may be mounted directly and which also support a cross member or rail upon which other tool carrying elements may be mounted. The tool carrying elements are each individually movable relative to their respective supports for adjustment or feeding purposes and in addition the tool supports themselves are adjustable with respect to the worksupport. Such adjustability is attained, however, without sacrifice of strength or rigidity of the machine structure by interconnecting the supporting members and mounting the cross member thereon in a novel manner.

Referring to the drawings, the improved machine tool is shown herein as having a rigid, generally T-shaped base or bed 9 constructed in sections including an elongated central section In and side sections II and ii. The sections ii and I2 are arranged substantially at right angles to the central section and on -opposite sides thereof and may be secured thereto in any suitable manner.

The central bed section ill carries a work supporting structure I! so arranged that the work may be translated horizontally or rotated about generally circular in form, and has T-slots I I o,sea,eoe the latter back and forth along the ways.

Through suitable clutch means or the like incorporated in the transmission, driving connections may be engaged to rotate the screw II so as to move the slide in either direction and at either feed or rapid traverse rates or the driving connections may be disengaged to permit the slide to remain stationary.

A shaft 18 extending from the housing 1.0 longitudinally of the ways 24 is arranged to impart rotation to the table I8 in any position of the slide I'I. As shown in Fig. 5, gearing I4 Journaled in the slide I1 and having a splined cona head feeding shaft I00. The shaft I drives a nut IOI iournaled in the head and in threaded the ram 48. Thus, by suitable manipulation of the clutches 88, 81 and 88 the work support driving motor M may be conditioned to raise or lower the head 88 or the ram 48 may be moved toward nection with the shaft 18 is arranged-to drive a vertical shaft I8 having a pinion "meshing with an internal gear l'l rigid with the table. Suitable controls are provided in the transmission so that the table may be stopped and held stationary in any selected position or may be rotated in either direction and at either feed or rapid traverse ra es.

In the exemplary machine, the headstocks 85 and 81 are adapted to be traversed along their respective ways by rotatable feed screws. Thus a vertically disposed elevating screw 88 is pro-' vided for raising and lowering the headstock 88. The screw 80 is driven, in this instance, through an intermediate shaft 8I (Figs. 1 and 5) and transmission 82 by a motor M8. The transmission of course includes suitable. clutches or the like whereby'the elevating screw may be rotated in ither direction or stopped as required by the particular work to be done. The motor and transmission are preferably mounted on the column base 8|.

The headstock 81 is translated along the ways 8I of the cross rail 80 by means of a feed screw 88 extending longitudinally of the rail. Suitable clutch means is provided whereby the feed screw may be driven in either direction and at either feed or rapid traverse rates or may be maintained idle if desired. Power for driving the feed screw is derived from a motor M4 through transmission 88 mounted at one end of the cross rail.

Since the turning head 88 and turning and boring head 88 are designed for performing operations requiring either rotation or'translation of the work, it is desirable to coordinate the movements of the heads along their ways with the movements of the work support. Such coordination can be obtained in various ways. In the particular machine illustrated, the coordination is obtained by utilizing the work support driving transmission for driving the heads in'their feeding movements. Separate motors are provided, however, for imparting rapid traverse movements to the heads as will appear presently.

As shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the drive for the heads 88 and 88 is taken through a shaft 80 extending from the transmission housing I0 along the back of the machine bed and having an adjustable driving connection with a cross shaft 8I Journaled in the base 80 of the column 28. The shaft 8| drives a vertical shaft, 82 (Figs. 1 and 5) extending through the head 88 and through the saddle 88 supporting-the right end of the cross-rail 80. A pair of bevel adapted to be connected selectively by clutches,

81 and 80 with either a ram driving shaft 88 or or from the work support at feeding rates accurately coordinated with the rate of movement of the work support. i

For imparting rapid traverse movements to the head 88 and ram 48, a reversible motor M8 is mounted directly on the head and is adapted to be connected selectively with the shafts 88 and I00 through the medium of the clutches 81 and be connected thereto selectively by a clutch II2 to drive a horizontal spline shaft II8 Journaled in the saddle and extending along the back of the rail 88. The shaft H8 in turn has a sliding connection with an intermediate shaft II4 journaled on the cross rail and adapted to be connected selectively by clutches H8 and H8 with either a ram driving shaft ill or a head feeding screw I I8, both extending longitudinally of the ways M. The screw H8 is in threaded engagement with a nut I I8 anchored in thehead 88 whereby the head may be traversed along the ways 8| in response to the rotation of the screw H8.

The ram driving shaft III, as shown in Fig. 5,-

anism is therefore effective to impart feeding movements to the ram in either direction.

v For imparting rapid traverse movements to the head 88 or ram 48, a motor M8 mounted at the right end of the cross rail 80 is adapted to be connected by means of the clutches II! and H8 with either the ram driving shaft I H or the head feeding screw II8 selectively. Thus, by appropriate manipulation of the clutches H2, H8 and H8 I either feeding or rapid traverse movements may be imparted to the head 88 or the ram 48 in either direction. As the feeding movements are derived from the work support driving mechaof course, by setting the clutches H8 and H8 in neutral position.

,- As herein shown, vertical movements are im- I parted to the cross rail 80 by means of feed screws I28 and I28. extending vertically between the ways of the columns 28 and 21 and threadin into stationary nuts I21 and I28 fixed to th saddles 88 and 84 which support the cross rail. The screws are driven through sets of bevel gears I28 and I slidably connected with a drive shaft III Journaled' on and extending longitudinally of the A pair of bevel gears IIO and III, loosely mounted on the shaft 82 are adapted to A arch 60. A reversible motor Ml mounted on the arch is arranged to drive the shaft I through a suitable speed reducer I32.

Means is provided forrigidly clamping each of, the movable machine elements selectively in adjusted position to insure absolutely rigid support for the tools or work, as the case may be, during a machining operation. The clamping means may be of any suitable or well-known type and preferably are power operated. In the exemplary machine, clamps its are provided for clamping the headstocks t5 and 8? to their respective ways and similar clamps l38 serve when applied to clamp the heads 35 and 38 to the ways upon which they are mounted. Clamps it! are available to lock the cross rail 39 to the saddles t3 and 86. The col 2% and 21! may be locked in usted position on the ways 52 and 53 by clamps I38 carried by the column bases 5E and bi. The upper ends of the columns likewise may be rigidly locked to the arch 6% by means of clamps use. Clamps sec and idi when applied are efiective respectively, to clamp the slide 9? to the ways 2%, and the table it to the slide ill.

The operation of the various driving motors, the engagement and disengagement oi the clutches heretofore referred to and the application and release of the clamps may be efiected by I control mechanisms of well-known construction which, per se, form no part of the present invention. It will be understood, of course, that the various controls are suitably interlocked so that the feeding or adjusting transmissions cannot be engaged when the clamps are operated or vice versa. Moreover, interfering movements of various elements are guarded against so that dam age to either the machine or the work is efi'ectually prevented.

The machine may be quickly and easily set up for PeifOlllJillg any or the various types of machining operations on workpieces of the range of sizes within its capacity. For milling operations, the spindles ll! and di of the headstocks 35 and 3? are, equipped with suitable milling cutters. The work is secured to the table it, and the columns 2d and 27 and the cross rail 8d are adjusted so as to bring the tools intooperative poescapes the rams E6 or or by translation oi the heads along their respective way The foregoing operations may be performed simultaneously on the top and one side of a workpiece which materially increases the operating efliciency and, capacity of the machine. Moreover, difierent areas of a workpiece may be presented for the action of the tools and accurately located with respect thereto by appropriate movements of the machine elements and without requiring a resetting of the workpiece on the work support. Thus all four sides of a work piece may be presented to the tool carried by the spindle is by rotation of the table it, and selected areas on any side may be accurately alined with the tool by translation of the slide sition with a minimum of spindle overhang. The

various clamps are released during such adjustment, and are reapplied after adjustment is enacted to hold the machine elements rigidly in fixed positions. Relative feed movements between the tools and work may be obtained either by translation of the work support slide i1, rotation of the work table it, axial movements of the tool supporting spindles or translation of the headstocks on their respective ways. The wide range of movements thus obtainable makes it possible to machine a large variety of workpieces.

Drilling and boring operations may also be performed with suitable tools mounted on the spindles dd and ii. In such operations the work supporting slide ii and table it are ordinarily clamped in adjusted position and feed is obtained through axial translation of the spindles. Proper location of the work and tools is quickly and easily effected through suitable adjustments of the machine elements.

Turning, boring, facing and like operations performed with non-rotating tools are carried out with the aid of the heads 36 and 38. Relative feeding movement of the tools and work may be obtained by translation of the slide it, by rotation of the table id, by axial feeding of ll. Likewise, any selected area on the upper face of the workpiece may be presented for action by the tool carried by the spindle ti by appropriate movements of the slide, the tableor theheadstock.

A high degree of precision is insured in all cases by the adiustability of the columns 26. and 2? and the cross rail to to locate the tool carrying elements in close proximity to the work irrespective of the size of the same. In this way 'tool overhang is reduced to a minimum for any size workpiece, and extremely rigid, vibrationless support is provided for the tools.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a machine tool or the classdescribed,

. in combination, a rigid bed, a rotatable work support mounted on said bed, means including a motor mounted on said bed for rotating said table, a pair of upright columns mounted on said bed at opposite sides of said work support tor movement toward and from the same, a cross rail supported and guided on said columns for movement toward and from said work support, a tool head mounted on said cross rail for trans lation longitudinally thereof, a feed screw for translating said tool head, a motor mounted on said rail, and means operable selectively for establishing a driving connection from either of said motors to said feed screw.

2. In a machine of the class described, in com- .bination, a movable work support, means including a motor for driving said work support, an upright column located at one side of said work support-and adjustable toward and from the same,

posite end portions or said bed for sliding ad-n justment toward and from opposite sides oi said work support, each column having vertical guideways, two saddles mounted on said respective guideways for vertical adjustment on said columns and. having horizontal guideways extending longitudinally of said bed, means for adjusting said saddles, a cross rail mounted at opposite ends on said horizontal guideways for relative sliding ad=- justment of said saddles with said columns, the upper ends ofsaid columns having horizontal guideways extending longitudinally of said bed, a bridging member mounted at opposite ends on last mentioned guideways for relative slid= 1:: adjustment oi" said tax-w -a mounted on one or said columns for vertical translation, a tool head mounted on said cross rail for horizontal translation, and means for reversely thereof and a rotary work table mounted on said slide for rotation about a vertical axis, means for selectively translating and rotating said slide and table, two upright columns supported and guided respectively on opposite end portions of said bed for sliding adjustment toward and from opposite sides of said work support, each .column having vertical guideways, two saddles mounted on said respective guideways for vertical adjustment on said columns and having horizontal guideways extending longitudinally of said bed, means for adjusting said saddles, a cross rail mounted at opposite ends on said horizontal guideways for relative sliding adjustment or said saddles with said columns, the upper ends of said columns having horizontal guideways extending longitudinally of said bed, a bridging member mounted at opposite end on said last mentioned guideways for relative sliding adjustment of said columns, a tool head mounted on one of said columns for vertical translation, a tool head mounted on said cross rail for horizontal trans- 11:81:32, and means for respectively translating said 5. 11 machine comprising, in combination,

a horizontal elongated bed, a work simp rt on an intermediate portion of said bed, two upright columns supported and guided respectively on opposite end portions or said bed for sliding adjustment toward and from opposite sides of said work support, each column having vertical guideways, two saddles mounted on said respective guideways for vertical adjustment on said columns and having horizontal guideways extending longitudinally of said bed, a cross rail mounted at opposite ends on said horizontal guideways for relative sliding adjustment of said. saddles with said columns, the upper ends of said columns having horizontal guldeways extending longitudinally of said bed, a bridging member mounted at opposite ends on said last mentioned guideways' for relative sliding adjustment of said columns, means including a drive motor mounted on said bridging member for simultaneously adjusting said saddles in synchronism along said first mentioned vertical guide'ways to elevate or lower said cross rail, a tool head mounted on one of said columns for vertical translation, a tool head mounted on said cross rail for horizontal translation, and means for respectively translating said heads.

HANS B. KRAU'I'. KEITH F. GAILIMORE. 

